Seizing the Airwaves: A Free Radio Handbook (Paperback)

by Stephen Dunifer (Editor) "Let us conjure up a vision of a Wild Radio Stampede disrupting the territorialized lines of Authority artificially drawn in the air surrounding Mother Earth..." (more)
Key Phrases: micropower radio, micropower broadcasting, micropower broadcasters, Free Radio Berkeley, Black Liberation Radio, Stephen Dunifer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The first book to document and emphasize the myriad voices of the free radio movement, from Black Liberation Radio in Springfield, Illinois, to Free Radio Berkeley in Berkeley, California. The first section, "Media Monopoly And The Rise Of The Free Radio Movement" includes contributions from Robert McChesney on the political economy of radio in North America and a history and analysis of the burgeoning pirate radio movement. The second section, "On The Air," includes interviews with and commentary by some of the key grassroots participants in micropower broadcasting worldwide—from Canada, Holland, Haiti, and Mexico, as well as America. The final section of the book consists of a comprehensive technical guide and how-to manual for going on the air, complete with schematics and "sound" advice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: AK Press (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873176996
• ISBN-13: 978-1873176993
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,344 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for those interested in media, April 9, 2000

By	Penny Little (California) - See all my reviews

This book is not only about the free radio movement but about how the media has been hijacked from the people by multi-national corporations whose interests are profit, control and homogenization. Communities are left in the lurch without a voice and the FCC is a pawn of the elite and big media. Since the media reflects the political viewpoints of the boards of directors of the few massive conglomerates who control over 90 percent of the air waves, the free radio movement is extremely important for the cause of free speech and democracy.

This book documents the history of the free radio movement through essays by different people involved in the movement. Ron Sakolsky (Co-conspirator with Mbanna Kantako) and Stephen Dunifer (founder of Free Radio Berkeley), contribute articles as well as edit this collection. There are interviews with Mbanna Kantako who began Human Rights Radio in the housing projects of Springfield, Illinois, Lee Ballinger, Jon Bekken, Ricardo Omar Elizalde, Lorenzo Ervin, Charles Fairchild, Paul Griffin, Jerry Landay, and many others.

The last chapter is devoted to starting your own low-watt or micro power radio and how to deal with legal questions. In light of the recent decisions in the courts, we may be hearing more about micro powered stations in communities in the near future.

I read this book from top to bottom and think it is a valuable contribution to raising the awareness of the people to the appalling everyday reality all over the world, the manipulation, censorship, and distortion of the opinions, news, activities of the mainstream, and yet in some way giving hope through the actions of doing something constructive. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in radio, the media, and free speech.